Chersonesus is an ancient Greek colony founded approximately 2,500 years ago, by settlers from Heraclea Pontica, on the shore of the Black Sea (now in a Sevastopol's suburb), in the southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula, known then as Taurica. During much of the classical period, it was a democracy ruled by a group of elected archons and a council called the Damiorgi. In the late 2nd century BC it became a dependency of the Bosporan Kingdom, in 1st century BC was subject to Rome, and in the 370s AD was captured by the Huns. Becoming Byzantine possession, was used as an observation point to watch the barbarian tribes, and also a popular place of exile for those who angered the Byzantine governments. After the Fourth Crusade it became dependent on the Empire of Trebizond, and then fell under Genoese control in the early 13th century. Sacked by the armies of Nogai Khan in 1299, was destroyed a century later by Edigu and permanently abandoned.
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